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Woolly hugs

Woolly Hugs is a charity established by a group of Mumsnet users. They knit / crochet handmade blankets and other items for families experiencing difficult times.

Woolly Hugs. Our Project to help refugees continues. One square, one blanket, a pair of gloves, one warm hat, one step at a time, really every little thing will help. All support welcome.

526 replies

KnottyAndPistey · 06/02/2016 09:44

When we started this project last September we had no idea how enormous it would become and honestly have been blown away by the response. We should have known, folk never fail to amaze. We can't find the words to express how grateful and thankful we are that so many have risen to the challenge. We know we can't help everyone, but will help as many as we can, and each warm item goes to an individual with love and support from us. Just looking at numbers of items we have already sent to refugees in Kurdistan and Lesvos...

Blankets made by individuals - 127
Blankets made using separate 12 or 6 inch squares sent in - 34
Hats - 805
Cardis/ jumpers etc - 90
Footwear - 15
Scarves - 145
Gloves/wrist warmers - 53

What an extraordinary response Thanks

It is the together bit, that's our strength, we are so grateful to everyone for every single stitch.

With your love and support we need to carry on. Every day more desperate folk are struggling in appalling conditions, there is no end in sight. In this next phase we will continue to send to refugees in Kurdistan and Lesvos and will also be supporting Syrian families arriving here, initially through contacts on the South coast.

Can you help us fabulous mumsnetters?

Because it still stands, we have C&P the OP for all crafting info from our first thread, which is here....

As for so many others, we have been moved to tears by the heartbreaking plight of refugees, both in Europe and further afield, and the inhumanity which seems to surround them too often. We have donated, signed petitions on change.org and written to our MPs, and understand the feeling of shouting in the wind, we desperately want to do more.

There is something practical we can do together, and it really will help, but fabulous Mumsnetters, we are going to need your support.

We can get woolly warmth to families in refugee camps in Kurdistan, thanks to the amazing charity Knit for Peace. There are 1.8 million refugees trapped there, most have fled civil wars and ISIS in Syria and Iraq. Winter is coming, it will be even more desperate and absolutely freezing. We are also developing links to get resources to children and families elsewhere, and on their arrival in the UK. We just want to help keep folk warm. We know we can’t help everyone, but we can some.

We really need your help, here’s how…

  • We need 12 inch, or six inch squares. Knit or crochet both equally welcome.
  • Yarn to be used - any good quality acrylic DK, for example Stylecraft special DK
  • Any colour, any style, it is all good.
  • Squares equally welcome if made by beginner or expert. Truly.
  • No one think their's wouldn’t be good enough. They will be.
  • We'd love to receive whole blankets, but absolutely understand time constraints.
  • We’d also love to receive hats and gloves/mittens for any age, baby sized through to adult, the same for jumpers. But appreciate that is a very big ask.
  • If you’d like to donate yarn or funds, let us know - we’d absolutely LOVE to hear from you, we need you too. This will be a real team effort
  • If anyone would like to join in crafting but can’t afford to, please PM us, we can help.

One square, one blanket, a pair of gloves, one warm hat, one step at a time, really every little thing will help. Together we can make a difference.

Thanks

Sadly we cannot accept items other than home made woolly ones at the moment, if this changes we will come back.

If anyone arrives in this thread and holds similar views to Cameron, no need to post, just move along. This is a positive, humanitarian thread taking positive, humanitarian action.

Do join us on our Facebook page Woolly Hugs and Twitter @Woolly_Hugs - both good ways to keep in touch.

If you'd rather email us than PM we are [email protected]

Thank you doesn’t come close, bless you.

Star Star Thanks Thanks

OP posts:
Thread gallery
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KnottyAndPistey · 01/04/2016 08:39

Squares and a snuggly cowl too, these are for our Refugee project from the very lovely BlueEyeShadow, thank you so much xxx

Woolly Hugs. Our Project to help refugees continues. One square, one blanket, a pair of gloves, one warm hat, one step at a time, really every little thing will help. All support welcome.
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KnottyAndPistey · 01/04/2016 08:40

Gorgeous squares arriving from the very lovely GD, thank you so much. xxxx

Woolly Hugs. Our Project to help refugees continues. One square, one blanket, a pair of gloves, one warm hat, one step at a time, really every little thing will help. All support welcome.
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KnottyAndPistey · 01/04/2016 08:40

Snuggly cowl type scarf for our Refugee Project from lovely WP, thank you! xxx

Woolly Hugs. Our Project to help refugees continues. One square, one blanket, a pair of gloves, one warm hat, one step at a time, really every little thing will help. All support welcome.
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KnottyAndPistey · 01/04/2016 08:41

The most enormous thanks to all who sent in these separate squares for our Refugee project and to lovely SS for such fantastic construction. Top team work, marvellous. xxxx

Woolly Hugs. Our Project to help refugees continues. One square, one blanket, a pair of gloves, one warm hat, one step at a time, really every little thing will help. All support welcome.
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KnottyAndPistey · 01/04/2016 08:41

Have run out of pictures! Even 30 a day not enough!

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KnottyAndPistey · 01/04/2016 08:42

Ok, uploaded so many to our Chernobyl project yesterday, but should be back in business after 9.30. Phew

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KnottyAndPistey · 01/04/2016 09:49

Gorgeous squares to go into joint blankets for our Refugee Project, fabulous. Thank you CS! Xxxx

Woolly Hugs. Our Project to help refugees continues. One square, one blanket, a pair of gloves, one warm hat, one step at a time, really every little thing will help. All support welcome.
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Drinksforeveryone · 01/04/2016 09:56

Some gorgeous items.

I am pleased mine arrived.

Might crack on with some more soon :)

SmallLegsOrSmallEggs · 01/04/2016 09:59

Placemarking and about to start knitting/crocheting as have only just gound this thread. I have a wool stash that has been just waiting for this momentWink

KnottyAndPistey · 01/04/2016 10:17

Thank you so much to lovely IvyWall for these fabulous knits to go into joint Refugee blankets. Truly marvellous, bless your heart. Thanks

Woolly Hugs. Our Project to help refugees continues. One square, one blanket, a pair of gloves, one warm hat, one step at a time, really every little thing will help. All support welcome.
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BlackeyedSusan · 01/04/2016 10:44

those blue ones are gorgeous, what lovely textures.

KnottyAndPistey · 01/04/2016 11:23

They really are beauties,

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KnottyAndPistey · 01/04/2016 11:23

The most enormous thanks to lovely EG for 8 fantastic baby cardis which she has beautifully knitted for our Refugee Project. Amazing, thank you. xxxx

Woolly Hugs. Our Project to help refugees continues. One square, one blanket, a pair of gloves, one warm hat, one step at a time, really every little thing will help. All support welcome.
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KnottyAndPistey · 01/04/2016 11:30

For our Refugee Project from the very lovely EG thank you so much, truly wonderful. xx

Woolly Hugs. Our Project to help refugees continues. One square, one blanket, a pair of gloves, one warm hat, one step at a time, really every little thing will help. All support welcome.
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BlackeyedSusan · 01/04/2016 23:54

wobbly edged crochet, not following a pattern and doing my own thing. sums me up too. Hmm

KnottyAndPistey · 02/04/2016 09:12

Ivy!!!!

Folk are asking for links to patterns for your beautiful blue squares, do you have?

Morning all btw Brew

Does everyone on here (who wants to and can obvs) follow our Facebook page? You can still remain anonymous, it is just a community page, and is Woolly Hugs

Do join us Thanks

Brew
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IvyWall · 02/04/2016 10:39

Some people have made some beautiful, complex knits/crochets. I am not an experienced knitter, so I googled for simple six inch square patterns based on knit and purl. I found some fabulous sites, but I used only simple patterns that repeat regularly, so I didn't get lost.

Two are from here www.halfknits.com/knitting-6-inch-block-patterns/

The rectangular checks is really simple, but I used 32 stitches and did the knit and purl in fours not threes. static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/425095/4847674/1330305890193/pattern_rectangular-checks-block.pdf?token=ih%2B8JaBkSJmscIN5AdcPVQwg7FU%3D

The Pennant stitch is here static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/425095/4182514/1330307970700/pattern_pennant-stitch-block.pdf?token=rG8yvPN7Vg0N%2FA0MaBEc0HO4cng%3D

The pennant pattern works in fives, so to get 32 stitches instead of 30 I just added an extra knit stitch at the start and finish of each row

I find that 32 stitches works best for me to make six inch squares in these two patterns

IvyWall · 02/04/2016 10:56

Simple Basketweave instructions here www.lionbrand.com/faq/276.html

I made one square using knit 8, purl 8 instead of knit 4, purl 4

IvyWall · 02/04/2016 11:18

Two of the squares are stocking stitch with a seed stitch border and I didn't use a pattern, just measured it. Seed stitch is just knit 1 purl 1 www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-knit-the-seed-stitch.html

So cast on 30 stitches (or however many suit your knitting tension) and knit seed stitch for several rows until your work measures an inch.
Then knit seed stitch for the six stitches at the beginning and end of each row. The rest of the stitches in the row should either be knit or purl to make stocking stitch. So one row of knit then the next row of purl

When your knitting measures five inches, do another inch of seed stitch and cast off

KnottyAndPistey · 02/04/2016 11:46

Bless you Ivy am just going to copy and paste, they certainly are just lovely, thank you again Thanks

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DidgeDoolittle · 02/04/2016 12:48

I've only just seen this thread. I will get knitting.
Could you pm me with details of where to send things?
Thank you.

IvyWall · 02/04/2016 17:08

I found a wall full of Stylecraft Special DK in a local wool shop, so I'm off again.
Trying a new pattern that I found from a link on the Woolly Hugs website
beta.woollyhugs.com/index.php/crafting-guide/help-and-patterns-team-knit/

It's called Checks and Ridges.

theghanaproject.wordpress.com/about/

Very simple. Two rows of knit then the third row is p2 k2.

The pattern on my knitting actually looks a little different because I used 32 stitches. Still looks fine though Grin

KnottyAndPistey · 05/04/2016 08:00

Morning, apologies, have been away for a couple of days, back and catching up right now, thank you everyone Thanks

Brew
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BlackeyedSusan · 05/04/2016 20:53

arse. fell in the wool shop again. had to walk half way across town with two tired children to be anywhere in the vacinity of the door... but honest gov, just fell through the door like...

SmallLegsOrSmallEggs · 06/04/2016 01:15

blackeyed that happens to me too. Although the dc have started rescuing meHmm

Sadly due to events in Ambridge, ahem, I am crocheting slightly more furiously than intended.